500GB SATA Hard-Drive Problem

I recently came into a 500g Sata hard-drive, from a friend of mine. he was using it on his desk top, took a trip and when he came back it was giving him problems. Apparently while he was away his son did something on the desktop which affected the hard-drive. I took it and tried to install Windows 7 on it, but when it gets to installing windows features it freezes. And at the beginning when u start up the pc it shows the message bootmgr is missing- press clt+alt+del to restart. i have search the internet in trying to find ways in solving this message and tried all options out there. But nothing seems to work, including using command dos option with bootrec/fix?. The hard-drive is basically new about 2yrs, and I really do not want to throw it away. Is there any other option you can give me to help me out.

You may want to try the diagnostic program available at the HDD manufacturers website. If the HDD is only 2 yrs old, it's probably still under warranty.

Otherwise, before attempting to install Windows, wipe out all current partitioning, create a new partition (or partitions), then format the drive. Once the drive is prepared, then try to install Windows.

Thanks very much, but how can I partition the drive if I cannot get it to start up. As soon as I connect the drive and start the pc, it shows the message and that's all I can do. Can you please tell me how to do what you just recommended. Many thanksFonty

Just to elaborate, you choose Custom and then Partition/Format. Then you delete all existing partitions, create new one, format and install. I recommend if you plan on creating more than one partition, just set up one and do the other(s) later from within Windows (Disk Manager) since you cannot be sure if you have two or more, which one Windows will install on.On one build I did with Windows 7, I was sure I selected the correct partition, but it installed on the second larger partition that was supposed to be for files. I ended up shrinking that partition and creating a third, put the programs on the one originally for the OS, and the files on the third (C is still the system drive but it is physically the second partition). The three works and I could have started over, but I had just finished getting all of the updates, drivers, and preferences done and set up when I noticed the size of C drive and had to decide on what to do. It's been that way for over 2 years I believe.

The information on Computing.Net is the opinions of its users. Such
opinions may not be accurate and they are to be used at your own risk.
Computing.Net cannot verify the validity of the statements made on this
site. Computing.Net and Compnet Ventures, LLC hereby disclaim all responsibility
and liability for the content of Computing.Net and its accuracy.